Evolve (professional wrestling)

Evolve
Public
Industry Professional wrestling
Founded 2010
Headquarters Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Key people
 Gabe Sapolsky
Sal Hamaoui
Parent WWNLive[1]
Website EvolveWrestling.com

Evolve Wrestling (stylized as EVOLVE) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in the Northeast founded in 2010 by former Ring of Honor booker and current Dragon Gate USA vice president, Gabe Sapolsky, Full Impact Pro owner Sal Hamaoui, and independent wrestler Davey Richards. The company features a roster of independently-contracted wrestlers from all over the country, as well as several competitors from Japan. The promotion has a close working relationship with Dragon Gate USA.

History

In 2009, Gabe Sapolsky announced a new wrestling promotion via some viral videos featuring one of the company's competitors, Jimmy Jacobs. After this more videos were produced promoting more performers, as well as featuring blogs written by the wrestlers about their feelings regarding the company. The first show, Evolve 1: Davey Richards vs. Ibushi, was held on January 16, 2010, in Rahway, New Jersey at Rahway Recreational Center.[2]

During interviews with wrestling newsletter Figure 4 Weekly on its radio show, Sapolsky told editor Bryan Alvarez that Evolve would have stronger emphasis on rules and would not limit anyone based on their own respective style of wrestling in favor of showcasing the talent's individual strengths and covering up their weaknesses.[3] On January 29, 2010, Sapolsky announced that Evolve would no longer be booking Davey Richards as he had signed a new contract with Ring of Honor.[4]

The concept of the promotion was initially an emphasis on the wrestlers' win-loss records. They divided the company into two divisions: singles wrestlers and tag teams. As per the website, some wrestlers would need to earn their way onto the roster by winning a qualifying match, but that since has been dropped.[5]

On November 25, 2011, Evolve and Dragon Gate USA announced the unification of the two promotions. Evolve and Dragon Gate USA will still promote separate events, but the two share rosters, including stables, and Evolve recognizes Dragon Gate USA's Open the Freedom Gate Championship and Open the United Gate Championship as its top two championships.[6]

In February 2013, Evolve announced that they would be holding a tournament to crown the first Evolve Champion as they were eliminatin the records system at that time. The tournament was held in Secaucus, New Jersey, at WrestleCon in April 2013. Evolve used the records of the talent to determine the seedings in the tournament; the top two were Chuck Taylor (10–5) and Ricochet (5–2), and both received byes into the second round. On April 5, AR Fox defeated Sami Callihan in the final to become the inaugural champion. On September 18, 2013, Vito LoGrasso announced that his new Wrestling School signed an agreement to be the Development Center for Evolve.[7]

In November 2014, Evolve, along with Dragon Gate USA (DGUSA), Full Impact Pro (FIP) and Shine Wrestling, all under the WWNLive banner, held a tour of China.[1] The following month, WWNLive announced a long-term deal with Great-Wall International Sports Management for regular tours of Asia, starting in the spring of 2015.[8]

In 2015, WWNLive opened a training facility in Trinity, Florida named "World Wrestling Network Academy", which Evolve shares with DGUSA, FIP and Shine.[9]

Roster

The company's roster is split into several units, with the majority of the wrestlers aligned with one faction or another.[10]

Ring name Real name Notes
Akira Tozawa Akira Tozawa
Anthony Nese Anthony Nese
Biff Busick Christopher Girard
BxB Hulk Terumasa Ishihara
Caleb Konley
Chris Hero Chris Spradlin
Christina Von Eerie
Chuck Taylor
Cima
Drew Galloway Drew Galloway DGUSA Open the Freedom Champion
Evolve World Champion
Drew Gulak Drew Gulak
Fire Ant Unknown
Genki Horiguchi [11]
Harlem Bravado Unknown
Ivelisse
James Raideen
Jigsaw
Johnny Gargano Open the United Gate Champion
Harlem Bravado Unknown
Lince Dorado José Cordero
Masaaki Mochizuki [12]
Masato Yoshino
Matt Sydal Matthew Korklan
Mr. A
Naruki Doi
Orange Cassidy
PJ Black Paul Lloyd
Rich Swann Open the United Gate Champion
Ricochet Trevor Mann
Ryu Saito
Shane Strickland Unknown [13]
Shingo
Silver Ant Unknown
Su Yung
Susumu Yokosuka [14]
Timoty Thatcher [15]
Trent Baretta Gregory Marasciulo
Tommy End
Yamato

Other

[16]

Championships

Current champions

Championship Champion(s) Previous Date Won Location
Evolve World Championship Drew Galloway Chris Hero August 8, 2014 Tampa, FL
Open the Freedom Gate Championship Drew Galloway Johnny Gargano March 28, 2015 San Jose, California
Open the United Gate Championship Ronin
(Johnny Gargano and Rich Swann)		 The Premier Athlete Brand
(Anthony Nese, Caleb Konley and Trent Baretta)		 April 18, 2015 Orlando, FL

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Johnson, Mike (2014-09-19). "Evolve heading to China (no, really)". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2014-09-19. WWNLive, the parent company of Evolve, Shine, FIP and Dragon Gate USA.
  2. ↑ "Schedule". Evolve Wrestling. Retrieved 2010-01-11.
  3. ↑ Alvarez, Bryan (2009-01-14). "Jan. 13 Figure Four Daily: Gabe Sapolsky on DGUSA, new EVOLVE promotion, ROH memories, booking, more". Figure 4 Weekly. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  4. ↑ Caldwell, James (2010-01-30). "ROH/DGUSA News: Davey Richards re-signs with ROH, dropped from DGUSA shows including WrestleMania weekend shows". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  5. ↑ Mr. C.C. (2010-10-19). "Breaking Kayfabe #2 w/Gabe Sapolsky". Retrieved 2010-10-21.
  6. ↑ "EVOLVE evolves -- now unified with DGUSA". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
  7. ↑ http://www.pwinsiderxtra.com/ViewArticle.php?id=26221
  8. ↑ Caldwell, James (2014-12-03). "Newswire: WWNLive announces long-term China plan, Ross talks importance of Tokyo Dome, New Japan's subscription goals, latest World Tag League standings, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2014-12-04.
  9. ↑ Caldwell, James (2015-02-19). "WWNLive news: Official new training facility announced". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  10. ↑ USA, Dragon Gate (2009-07-23). "Dragon Gate USA". dgusa.tv. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  11. ↑ http://www.dgusa.tv/bio/genki-horiguchi
  12. ↑ http://www.dgusa.tv/bio/masaaki-mochizuki
  13. ↑ "Shane Strickland". Dragon Gate USA. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
  14. ↑ http://www.dgusa.tv/bio/susumu-yokosuka
  15. ↑ http://www.dgusa.tv/bio/timothy-thatcher
  16. ↑ "Announcers/Referees". Dragon Gate USA. Retrieved 2010-09-19.

External links